Shannon here: Pamela S. Meyers shares insight into her real life & the inspiration for her latest Historical Romance, Tranquility Point. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a copy. Or if you haven’t yet begun the series, you can enter the drawing for a print or digital copy of book #1 in the series, Safe Refuge. Just a head’s up, Pam’s books have been republished by Scrivenings Press, where I’m co-owner and content editor. Deadline: Aug. 15th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Pam:
- Are you open to your own romance?
I’ve been single all my life, and as the years pass by my expectations and desires for a marital relationship have changed considerably. Back in my twenties I became engaged to my high school sweetheart and camethisclose to marrying him. But in the nic of time he met someone else and that was the absolute end of our on-and-off relationship. Of course, at the time, the hurt was horrible and the breakup couldn’t have come at a worst time. My parents had just moved from my hometown to another state, and I’d quit my job in anticipation of joining him in NYC where he was attending school. I felt like I had no home to return to.
Circumstances presented that led me to move to Los Angeles. I dated several guys over the years but in truth I was looking for love in all the wrong places. Toward the end of my seven years out west I sensed God was drawing me to Him through people I met and other circumstances. I did move back to the Midwest with my job, settled in the Chicago suburbs and began attending church. Growing in my faith occupied a lot of my time but I still had a yearning for a loving relationship.
It took a while for me to realize a truth. Not every woman is going to have a “Mr. Right” on earth, but every Christian woman already has her Mr. Right in Jesus. Isaiah 54: 4-5 (KJV) says: ‘Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.’
I realized with those words that as a single woman with no children God had willed for me to be more available for ministry than I ever would be if I had a husband and children to care for and that every soul I lead to the Lord is a spiritual child of mine. I began to think of my little condo as my tent that needed to figuratively be enlarged by holding Bible studies in my home. That later translated to an even larger outreach through my novel writing and my posting on the Internet. Verse 5, especially, drew me into a contentment with my singleness that I’d never experienced.
Although I don’t have an earthly spouse or significant other, I love writing about romance from a Christian perspective. My stories reflect life as it is between flawed people and how they resolve their issues through prayer and godly counsel as they apply the truth of scripture to their lives.
The story behind the Newport of the West Series:
I grew up in a beautiful area of southeastern Wisconsin that includes Geneva Lake, a spring-fed lake that was carved out by an historical glacier that once covered that part of our world. For many years, its beauty and proximity to Chicago, has made it a magnet for people wanting to escape the city for a weekend, and for some, an entire summer.
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, prompted the movers and shakers of the city to bring their families to the lake to stay while the city was rebuilt. And they loved the lake so much, that the area became their second home. Soon others from the city heard about the available land along the lakeshore and also built beautiful homes there, which worked to earn the area the nickname of “The Newport of the West.” Newport, Rhode Island was the getaway spot for the movers and shakers of New York City back in the day, and at the time, the Midwest was considered the west.
For many years, I took my home area’s history for granted, but as the old mansions began to disappear, either through deterioration or the wrecking ball, I began to realize that the new residents and visitors to the area had no idea of the lake’s history. At about the same time, I had begun writing novels and the dream about writing a historical series set in Lake Geneva emerged.
The first book in the series, Safe Refuge, begins with the Great Chicago fire in 1871, and focuses on wealthy Anna Hartwell whose arranged marriage to an evil man is about to take place. The marriage is delayed because of the fire but … Well, I’ll let you find out how Anna’s story turns out by reading the book. 😉 Book 2, Shelter Bay, takes place in 1893 at the time of the Columbian Exposition and the small pox epidemic. Book 3, Tranquility Point. takes place during World War I and the fourth book, Rose Harbor, the book I’m currently writing, occurs during World War II.
About Pamela: Pam has written most of her life, beginning with her first diary at age eight. Her novels, set in and around her hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, include Surprised by Love in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Safe Refuge, and Shelter Bay, Books One and Two in the Newport of the West Series. Pam resides in northern Illinois with her two rescue cats. She’s an hour or so away from Lake Geneva where she can be found researching and nosing for new story ideas. Learn more & connect:
Pamela’s Facebook Pamela’s Twitter Pamela’s Website
About the book – Tranquility Point:
Hannah Murphy is determined to make the summer of 1916, the best it can be before she heads off to law school in the fall. Like her mother and grandmother before her, she is inclined to “break the mold” when it comes to societal expectations of a young woman of means. Her mother was the first woman in town to wear bloomers, and Hannah becomes the first to ditch swim dresses in favor of a practical swimsuit that allows freedom to move through the water.
At the first gathering of the summer, she reacquaints with tall, handsome Ted Bauer, also an aspiring attorney. Ted, who is of German descent, had a huge crush on Hannah when he was in eighth grade, and she was in sixth. He’s no longer the gangly boy she remembers and is quite appealing. With Geneva Lake as their backdrop, their summer romance escalates, until the dark cloud of the Great War can no longer be ignored. Although the U.S. has not yet joined the fray, people of German descent are seen with mistrust, and Ted enlists with the British Army to take the heat of discrimination off his family. With the future on hold, Hannah bids her fiancé farewell as he goes to war. Only God knows if she will ever see him again or if they will ever be able to recapture what they had those few short summer months.
Can’t wait for the drawing or interested in the whole series? Get your copies now!
Safe Refuge – Scrivenings Press Shelter Bay – Scrivenings Press
Tranquility Point – Scrivenings Press
Suprised by Love – Amazon Pamela’s Amazon Author Page
Question for Readers: Have you a special affinity for your hometown? Please share in your comments about your hometown or a town you consider to be special.
Come back August 7th for Patricia Lee!
Thanks for hosting me today, Shannon. I’ve enjoyed the visit so far. 🙂
Hey Pam, glad to have you. I love where I live now, north central rural Arkansas. But I also love Mableton, GA where I spent some childhood years. I still have family and friends there and long to visit. It’s been five years since I went. Need to change that soon. I also love Medina, TX where my husband spent some growing up years. He still has family there and we usually visit every few years.
Pamela, thank you so much for sharing your story! No wonder you’re an author. What fodder you have for stories! After living near Pittsburgh, PA, for 14 years, my husband and I moved back to my tiny hometown of 1,234 people (according to the 2010 census). I never expected this bend in the road, but God led us here. We built a house on my great-grandfather’s property, and our children graduated from my old high school. I’ve enjoyed watching them experience similar things and come to know and love people from my childhood.
That is so cool, Hope. To be able to go back home to live is a blessing. I don’t expect to do that, but I’m grateful to only live an hour or so away.
“ Not every woman is going to have a “Mr. Right” on earth, but every Christian woman already has her Mr. Right in Jesus.” <<love that!!
I love my hometown because it is small ! everyone know everyone and is willing to help each other
That’s really nice Shelia. Lake Geneva was almost that small. We knew most everyone but not all.
Loved hearing your life story, Pam. I think it’s great you’re writing what you know and love!
I grew up in the Town of Otego, N.Y., on a small farm. My mother still lives there. After living in several places over the period of more than 40 years, my husband and I now have a home in Otego, about five miles from my mother’s house. There is also a Village of Otego, which is where I attended school, my father worked, and many of my friends lived. Several years ago, the school closed. Of course, most of the people I knew are gone. Last year I attended my 50th Class Reunion. It was fun reconnecting with “kids” I hadn’t seen in 50 years. I’m glad to get to know you better, Pam. God has a different plan for each of us.
I consider Colorado Springs my hometown as I have lived here most of my life. I was born in California but haven’t been back there since my family left when i was 7.
Pamela, thank you for sharing – beautiful!
Hometown…I moved 6,000 miles away in my 20s but still have good memories of our small town. I’ve visited 10 years later but it wasn’t the same.
I grew up in a very small town, not much at all there! I’ve been back a few times over the years in my adult life, but don’t think I would ever want to settle there again. Besides the size, it’s cold in the winter!
I’m originally from San Diego, CA and still live there near the coast. My parents still live here as well. What I like about here is that the weather stays mostly the same year-round and not too humid.
I would have to say I love my home town but the town I have a special affection for is Atkinson, NE, Even though I only lived there for 3 1/2 years, my my high school years and where I graduated.I will always think of it as ‘home’ also.
wfnren at aol dot com
I have a winner! Patty won the drawing. I appreciate Pam for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.